Hearty Beef Stew

5 from 10 votes
8 Comments

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This Hearty Beef Stew is chock full of tender steak, potatoes, and veggies simmering in a rich, savory broth. Filling and warm, this is comfort food at its finest!

Bowl of Hearty Beef Stew with a spoon and a buttered dinner roll on the side.
Featured with this recipe
  1. Hearty Beef Stew Ingredients
  2. How to Make the Best Beef Stew
  3. Tips for Perfect Beef Stew
  4. What to Serve with Beef Stew
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Storing Homemade Beef Stew
  7. More Warm Soups and Stew Recipes
  8. How to Make Hearty Beef Stew
  9. Hearty Beef Stew Recipe

This hearty beef stew is full of flavor and is a comforting soup that everyone loves! It is the perfect meal for feeling cozy on a cold night. We serve it with some simple apple slices and warm bread or biscuits. It’s the perfect dinner to serve to a crowd, or just a simple weeknight supper.

Get all your main food groups in one soup! This soup has all you need for a complete meal. There is not much preparation for making this stew, perfect for a busy night. It is simple to make and has all the delicious flavors. It is thick, rich, and hearty in every bite!

Hearty Beef Stew Ingredients

Melt-in-your-mouth steak simmering in a rich broth combined with chunks of potatoes and hearty vegetables make this one of those warm meals that make you want to linger around the dinner table. Take your traditional beef stew to the next level with these delicious ingredients!

  • Steak – Cut your steak into bite sized pieces. Use beef stew meat if that is easier!
  • Tabasco sauce – Don’t be worried about this being too spicy. The heat does cook out some during the simmer process. Use as much or as little as you would like, depending on who is going to be enjoying the stew.
  • Worcestershire sauce – Gives the meat a nice rich, robust flavor.
  • Onion – Cut into small chunks that give it a nice, soft texture when cooked through.
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic is best!
  • Beef broth – This gives the stew some liquid with flavor.
  • Potatoes – Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes evenly so they cook all together without becoming mushy or undercooked.
  • Carrots – Peel and slice or shred carrots to add into the homemade stew.
  • Corn and peas – These can either be frozen or fresh. They are great add-ins for color, texture, and flavor.
  • Tomato juice – Add in more tangy and sweet flavor with this tomato juice.
  • Cornstarch – This will help thicken the beef stew while it is cooking all together. We prefer this as a thickener to all purpose flour.
  • Kosher Salt and Black Pepper – to taste
Ingredients for Hearty Beef Stew including beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, onion, garlic, beef broth, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and tomato juice.


How to Make the Best Beef Stew

This homemade beef stew is perfect for a family dinner! It is full of the most flavorful ingredients and brings warmth to the table. Grab your dutch oven and let’s start making the best beef stew recipe!

  1. Cooking the beef – Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible). Make your beef tender and juicy!
  2. Liquid ingredients – Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Vegetables – Add onions and sauté until onions become clear. Transfer to a large pot and add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots.
  4. Simmer – Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour, or until potatoes are cooked through. If you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.
  5. Cooking on medium-high heat – About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas, and tomato sauce and simmer until ready to serve. If you like your stew nice and thick, add about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.
  6. Balance the broth – Add beef broth to thin out and cornstarch to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Hand dipping a piece of roll into a bowl of Hearty Beef Stew.

Tips for Perfect Beef Stew

You will love how simple this beef stew recipe is to make! Follow these extra tips to help the process run smoother. You will love the way this classic beef stew turns out!

  • Browned bits – Sear or braise the meat in a hot oiled skillet until all sides are nice and brown. This locks in the moisture of the meat so it doesn’t dry out.
  • Meat – Instead of steak, you can use your leftover chuck roast or beef chuck from your Sunday dinner! It tastes delicious and is a perfect way to use up leftovers.
  • Slow cooker – This stew can be made on the stove top as directed in the recipe card below, or you could throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do all the work. Your house will smell delicious!
  • Smaller vegetables – Peas and corn cook up really quick, so don’t add them until about twenty minutes before serving.
  • Extra vegetables – Feel free to throw in any veggies you like! Mushrooms, pea pods, celery, green beans, red peppers, just about anything you have in your fridge you can chop up and add to this soup.
  • Thicken your stew! For a thicker stew, add a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour to a little bit of cold beef broth or water, then stir it into the soup. If it’s too thick, add some more beef broth. You can also use tomato paste instead of tomato juice to thicken the soup.
  • Add some flavor – give your stew some added spice by adding some rosemary, thyme, or red pepper flakes for some heat. Try adding a little balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar for a different kick.

What to Serve with Beef Stew

Bread is always the first choice in a side dish for soup. There’s nothing as comforting as dipping a piece of crusty bread into a bowl of piping hot soup. Try some of these delicious recipes to serve alongside this hearty beef stew for a show-stopping meal.

Wooden spoon holding a scoop of Hearty Beef Stew over the pot.

“This stew is so rich in flavor! Thanks for the recipe!”

-Anna

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to good stew?

Stews are great for developing more flavor within the cooking process as it is simmering. Because beef is a tough cut of meat, the stew takes longer to cook through and tenderize the meat in the liquid. Some people even believe it is good luck to use bay leaves in their stew for more added flavor.

Can you make this beef stew in the crock pot?

Yes! You can also throw everything (except potatoes, corn, and peas) in a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add potatoes, corn, and peas for the last 2 to 3 hours so they don’t get too mushy.

How to tell if the beef stew is done?

Once the beef is tender and the thicker vegetables, like the potatoes and carrots, are fork-tender, then the stew is ready to be served.

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes, check out our recipe for Instant Pot Beef Stew!

READ NEXT: Easy Crockpot Soup Recipes

Bowl of Hearty Beef Stew garnished with parsley. Spoon on the side.

Storing Homemade Beef Stew

This beef stew makes a large amount and is perfect for feeding a family or even a crowd. There are usually leftovers with this stew that make it nice to have lunches, more dinners, freeze it, or share it with others around you. Here are a few ways to keep your beef stew

  • Refrigerate – Place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to a week long. When ready to reheat, place on the stovetop until warm, or warm up in the microwave stirring in between intervals.
  • Freeze – Make a big batch of stew ahead of time and freeze. Store it in a freezer-safe bowl or Ziplock bag, and it’ll keep for several weeks.

More Warm Soups and Stew Recipes

How to Make Hearty Beef Stew

Hearty Beef Stew in a bowl with a spoon. Buttered dinner roll on the side.

Hearty Beef Stew

5 from 10 votes
This Hearty Beef Stew is chock full of tender steak, potatoes, and veggies simmering in a rich, savory broth. Filling and warm, this is comfort food at its finest!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible).
    Pan with seared beef cubes for Hearty Beef Stew.
  • Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.
    Wooden spoon stirring seasoned beef for Hearty Beef Stew.
  • Add onions and garlic, sauté until onions become clear.
    Skillet with Beef and onions with a wooden spoon for Hearty Beef Stew.
  • Transfer to a large pot and add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour (or until potatoes are cooked through) if you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.
    Pot with beef cubes, beef broth, carrots and potatoes for Hearty Beef Stew.
  • About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas, and tomato juice and simmer until ready to serve.
    Peas and corn added to the pot of Hearty Beef Stew.
  • If you like your stew thick, add about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.
    Bowl of beef stew both and corn starch for Hearty Beef Stew.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
    Pot of thickened Hearty Beef Stew.

Notes

How to make Beef Stew in the Crock Pot

Add everything (except potatoes, corn, and peas) to a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add potatoes, corn, and peas for the last 2 to 3 hours so they don’t get too mushy.

Recipe Tips:

  • Browned bits – Sear or braise the meat in a hot oiled skillet until all sides are nice and brown. This locks in the moisture of the meat so it doesn’t dry out.
  • Meat – Instead of steak, you can use your leftover chuck roast or beef chuck from your Sunday dinner! It tastes delicious and is a perfect way to use up leftovers.
  • Smaller vegetables – Peas and corn cook up really quick, so don’t add them until about twenty minutes before serving.
  • Extra vegetables – Feel free to throw in any veggies you like! Mushrooms, pea pods, celery, green beans, red peppers, just about anything you have in your fridge you can chop up and add to this soup.
  • Thicken your stew! For a thicker stew, add a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour to a little bit of cold beef broth or water, then stir it into the soup. If it’s too thick, add some more beef broth. You can also use tomato paste instead of tomato juice to thicken the soup.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 432kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 37gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 736mgPotassium: 1106mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 7056IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 6mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Beef stew is a classic & favorite of ours!! This weather in AZ has made me crave some…so I will be adding it to the menu this week!

  2. 5 stars
    There’s a very similar Vietnamese beef stew recipe and it reminds me of my mother and her cooking. Love! Wonderful for fall.

  3. 5 stars
    I made this stew for dinner last week. Me and my husband loved it! It was so easy to make. I threw in some matchstick carrots and 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables that I had on hand–there were plenty of carrots. 🙂 I replaced the tomato juice with a small can of V8 juice. Yum! This one is a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.